Inside the Confucian Temple there are over 2,000 steles of different dynasties. The characters on them are in various styles, among which the stele inscriptions of the six dynasties from Han to Wei are most famous home and abroad.
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| The Confucian Mansion |
The Confucian Mansion is located to the east of the Qufu Confucian Temple. It is the official and private residences of Confucius’ descendants and therefore is also named Yansheng Duke Mansion. From the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), as the governments paid respect to Confucius, they took good care of Confucius’ descendants and their relatives. Han Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang) appointed Confucius’ ninth-generation son as Fengsi Gentleman. Han Emperor Yuandi appointed Confucius’ 13th-generation son as Guannei Marquis. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Confucius’ 35th-generation son was appointed as Wenxuan Duke. In the 2nd year (1055) of the Zhihe reign of the Song Dynasty, Confucius’ 46th-generation son was appointed as Yansheng Duke. His sequent descendants inherited the official title. Yansheng Duke enjoyed great privileges in Ming and Qing dynasties. Confucius’ descendants originally lived in the old house in Queli. In the Baoyuan reign of the Song Dynasty, a new mansion was built. After Yansheng Duke was appointed, the mansion was renamed Yansheng Duke Mansion. In the 19th year (1377) of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), another new mansion was built on the east of the old house. After many times of extension, it formed today’s size.
The Confucian Mansion occupies an area of over 200 mu, including 463 walls, buildings and so on. It has 9 courtyards, which are divided into 3 lines.
The eastern line is where the Family Temple lies, including Baoben Hall, Yao Temple, New Memorial Temple, Yiguan Hall, Muen Hall, Lan Hall where imperial envoys were received, Jiuru Halland and Imperial Writing Building. On Muen Hall is hung the funeral oration that the Emperor addressed to the mother of the 73th-generation Yansheng Duke Kong Qingrong in the 5th year of Daoguang of Qing Dynasty (1825). Inside the hall Kong Qingrong’s mother Yu’s and father Kong Xianpei’s portraits and memorial tablets, their statues of sitting face to face, painting of seeking amusement are consecrated. Despite a large size, there is little colorful decoration in Confucian Mansion. However, Muen Hall is full of colorful decoration and is the only one like this in Confucian Mansion.
(Source: chinaculture.org)
